The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1887-05-06

think of these two men, Of differ
ent parties fighting a measure be-
cause it is undemocratlc.
Mr.. j. w. Bailey, now of this
State, but known to you and
many Of your readers, finding his
name among the appointments as
a member of the anti-Prohibition
Executive Committee, declines to
act in that capacity for as he
states publicly, "the very good
reason | favor the Constitutional
/ Amendment which the Committee
is organized to oppose.
Two years ago Senator Coke,
took the field against Prohibition.
To-day he has nothing to say
against it. The anti-Prohibition-
lists were expecting valuable aid
| from Senator Maxey, and Senator
Reagan; and wrote them a pri-
vate letter saying: "Come to our
help" Both of those distinguish
ed gentleman refused, and not
only refused, but declared them
selves in favor Of. Prohibition.
The following is part Of Mr..
Reagan's letter;
"If ! had leisure to engage in
this discussion, with all respect
for the opinions of the meeting
you represent, ] could not concur
with the views expressed in your
letter. Willie / have heretofore
felt constrained to oppose Prohi-
bition because its friends sought
to make it a political issue and to
antagonize and overthrow the
Democratic party that reason
does not now exist and I am not
inclined, by speech or vote, to
countenance the evils flowing from
the selling and drinking Of intoxi-
eating liquor as now practiced,
or to give to them the moral sup
port Of public opinion or the pro-
lection OF the State government.
In every community we find men,
once honored and respc c t Q d /,
reduced 10 poverty, wretched-
ness and dishonpr by spend
ing their money and timein driuk-
ing saloons; wives weighed down
with grief and sorrow and want,
and heart-broken and helpless
children growing up in ignorance,
beggary aud vice, because hus-
bands and fathers have been made
drunkards and vagabonds by
patronizng the drinking saloons.
Millions of dollars are invested in
this business OF making men
drunkards and In producing the
dpsolation and ruin of women and
children, which, if employed IN
agriculture, manufacturing or com
mercial pursuits and directed by
the talents and time wasted in
these drinking houses, would add
untold millions to the aggregated
wealth of happy families as arc
now made miserable because this
money and time are given TO the
selling and drinking of intoxica.
ting liquors.
The trainers OF our State con.
stItution, having reference to these
evils, provided that 'sthe Legisla.
ture shall at its first session enact
a law whereby the qualified voters
Of any county, Justices precinct,
town or city, BY majority vote
from time to time, may determine
whether the sale Of Intoxicating
liquors shall be prohibited within
the prescribed limits.'' II woulC
be no great innovation upon this
principle for the people Of the
State to adopt constitutional
provision declaring that s.tsn,
manufacture, sale and Sxchano,
of Intoxicating liquors, except fol
medical, mechanical and scientif,
purposes, is hereby prohibited il
the state Of Texas. . The Stat,
Democratic convention, whicl
; met at Galveston last summer
inserted in its platform of prIn
ciples a declaration in substance
that citizen might be a loca
optionist or pohibItionist and a
the same time be.a Democrat.
The present Legislature wiseI,
} determined, in submitting III,
? question of the adoption of tb,
: prohibition amendment by a vot,
of the people, that the election
: should be held at time when N,
} other election was TO be held, ii
order that the people might pas
upon that question unembarasse,
: by any other political question
/, or elections, so that the eIectio,
5 should be non-partizen. In viey
] Of these facts, with all respect 70
: the meeting at Austin aad its com
miitee, | must express my regre
: that any effort has been made +,
4 make a party question Of it: an,
) especially do regret that Dem